This Sunday on International Women’s Day, the Australian Koala Foundation (AKF) is celebrating the women who refuse to give up – those who stand firm, speak out and fight for what matters.

Among them is Deborah Tabart OAM, the long-serving Chair of the organisation and one of Australia’s most passionate wildlife advocates. For nearly 40 years, Tabart has dedicated her life to protecting one of the country’s most iconic animals – the Koala.

The timing is especially significant. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Australian Koala Foundation, and for much of that time Tabart has been the driving force behind the organisation’s work to protect koalas and the forests they depend on.

Long before koalas were widely recognised as being in serious trouble, Tabart was already raising the alarm. She pushed governments to strengthen protections, challenged policy decisions and worked tirelessly to keep koala conservation on the national agenda.

Her persistence helped lead to a major milestone in 2022, when koalas in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory were officially listed as endangered – a move conservationists had long been calling for.

For the AKF, it was a moment that confirmed what the organisation had been warning for years: Australia’s beloved koalas were facing a growing conservation crisis.

Tabart’s work has extended far beyond Australia’s borders. Over the decades she has travelled internationally to raise awareness about koalas and their shrinking habitat, using every opportunity to highlight the need for stronger protections.

She has also been a leading voice behind the proposed Australian Koala Protection Act, legislation designed to safeguard koalas and the forests they rely on.

Those who know Tabart describe her leadership style as determined, passionate and direct. She has never shied away from challenging decision-makers or speaking up when she believes more must be done.

Recently, the Australian Koala Foundation attended an International Women’s Day celebration recognising female leaders, advocates and changemakers across the country. The event honoured women who continue to drive progress and create meaningful change in their communities.

Tabart stood proudly among them.

Her decades of advocacy have helped shape the national conversation about koalas and their future. Through persistence, courage and an unwavering belief in the cause, she has helped ensure the plight of koalas remains firmly in the public eye.

As the Australian Koala Foundation celebrates 40 years of conservation, it is also recognising the woman who has spent most of that time leading the fight.

This International Women’s Day, the organisation is honouring Deborah Tabart and the many women like her who refuse to give up — women whose determination proves that strong leadership can change the course of history.

For Australia’s koalas, Tabart’s work is far from finished.

But thanks to her dedication, there is still hope for the species and the forests they call home.